JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers were on the wrong side of a 74-57 final score in their 2023-2024 season opener against the Pensacola State Pirates in Jacksonville on Friday afternoon. 

 

The Bucs got off to a slow start, managing just four points through the first six minutes of action, but their bench got them going later in the period as Ekaterina Shchepotkina nailed a three from the top of the key to give FSW their first lead of the game at 14-12 with 1:30 to go in the quarter.  The teams traded baskets to the end of the period with FSW holding a 16-15 lead at the end of one. 

 

The tempo picked up as the second quarter got under way and still neither team was able to pull away from each other as the Bucs and Pirates found themselves deadlocked at 28 midway through the period. FSW managed just five points over the final five minutes of the half however, which allowed Pensacola to take a two point lead at 35-33 into the break at half. 

 

Both teams made some changes in the locker rooms at half, but it continued to be a back and forth affair with the game remaining within two possessions for nearly the entire third quarter.  The Bucs closed it to a two point game late in the third, but Pensacola got the final two of the period to take a 50-46 lead at the end of three. 

 

After playing tight with the Pirates for the first 30 minutes, the final 10 took a turn for the worst for FSW.  Pensacola outscored the Bucs 24-11 in the fourth, opening up a double digit lead before finishing off a 74-57 victory. 

 

Makenna Shaffer led the Bucs with 17 points and 11 rebounds in her first career game while Georgi Buzzetti was second on the team with 9 points.  

 

The Bucs drop their season opener for the second time in three seasons while Pensacola wins their opener for the third straight year. 

 

FSW will look to bounce back Saturday when they take on Southern Crescent Tech who lost their opener by 40 to Eastern Florida on Friday.